Faith-Based Opposition to George W. Bush's Presidential Library
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
The latest issue of the New York Times Magazine tracks the controversy at Southern Methodist University over the school's decision to house George W. Bush's presidential library. How ironic is it that opposition to the library of the most faith-based president in modern times is itself faith-based—and grounded in Bush's own Methodist tradition? Here's the Times Magazine on the opposition's ringleaders, who are attached to SMU's school of theology:
Some members of the S.M.U. community, who had not found the prospect of housing the Bush center terribly appealing in mid-2005, now viewed it with horror. In November 2006, William McElvaney, a United Methodist minister and former faculty member, now retired, at S.M.U.'s Perkins School of Theology, and a younger colleague, Susanne Johnson, wrote an article in The Daily Campus, the school paper, that bluntly asked: "Do we want S.M.U. to benefit financially from a legacy of massive violence, destruction and death brought about by the Bush presidency in dismissal of broad international opinion?"
You can read the McElvaney's and Johnson's full op-ed here. Here's the heart of it:
That said, what does it mean ethically to say that regardless of an administration's record and its consequences, it makes no difference when considering a bid for the library? What does it mean ethically for SMU to say a war violating international law makes no difference? That a pre-emptive war based on false premises, misleading the American public, and destined to cost more American lives in Iraq than the 9-11 terrorist attack makes no difference? That the death of thousands of innocent Iraqis by our "shock and awe" bombing in the name of democracy, verified by international organizations and Iraqi doctors, is of no consequence?
These realities are not about partisan politics. Rather we are concerned with deep ethical issues which transcend politics. Do we want SMU to benefit financially from a legacy of massive violence, destruction, and death brought about by the Bush presidency in dismissal of broad international opinion?
What moral justification supports SMU's providing a haven for a legacy of environmental predation and denial of global warming, shameful exploitation of gay rights, and the most critical erosion of habeas corpus in memory?
Read the full New York Times Magazine article here.
Tags: New York Times | George W. Bush | religion | Southern Methodist University
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Reader Comments
Methodist not evangelical.
How can anyone, "the Truth of the matter", with a straight mind actually belive that in anyway the order to "Shock and Awe" is Gods will. And a university that purports to walk in Jesus steps. Only Dick Cheny insanity. Ah, Its them darn Democrats on the faculty stiring up trouble again. I believe that according to you, nothing that Bill Clinton said or did is to be believed, much less taken for being ethical. And your anger, very Jesus like, just oozes out of your every pore.
The Truth of the Matter
I am shocked at the opposition to the library. As I read the reasons in this article, it was quickly clear to me that the whole problem is that these are Democrats who have believed the media and their party line, but not believed history.
The fact of the matter is that former President Clinton and 100 Senators passed the Iraqi Freedom Act in 1998 citing weapons of mass destruction as one of the reasons. I cannot understand why it is that a Democratic President and a Republican President can say the same thing, look for the same thing in the same place; and the Democrat can be right and the Republican can be wrong. There is something wrong with this picture.
This is a Methodist University. The last I checked with the Bible, God is not a respecter of persons and He requires righteous judgement. That means the facts have to be examined in light of His Word and not party preference. In my opinion, it is more Democrats vs Republicans. I wonder how these who oppose the Bush Library would have responded to housing the Clinton Library. If they would not have had a problem with the Clinton Library, there is a serious problem with their lack of faith in their faith. Are they Methodist first or Democrats first. There is only one first place and God has reserved it for Himself.
It seems to me that they have more allegiance to their Party than to their God and they are using historical differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican policies to object to something that has nothing to do with the man.
The war within the United States along party lines was much more destructive that the war without. With the media and the opposing party aiding and abetting the enemy on every turn it is no wonder that the war they should have been over quickly has continued. It has not continued because of lack of military know how, but because of politicians playing party politics and lying.
In case they have not read the recent Homeland Security document on (U//FOUO) Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment. This is another Democratic document that targets everyone who opposes their agenda. One Congressman said that under this document 81% of the people in his district would be considered terrorist.
The last I heard Methodist were still listed as a "Christian" group. If they are still Christian, then it would only take reading their Bible, preferably the KJV, to answer a lot of the opposition. First they will need to get the history and the facts and let the chips fall where they fall and stop believing everything they read or see or hear from the media. One cannot/should not/must not judge any matter with out all of the facts and the history behind the facts. Christians must get their guidance from the Bible and they should not disagree with God. For the Christian the Word of God defines and determines what is right what is wrong what is good what is evil.
Obama University
I would totally be ashamed to call this university a faith-based institution. Your treatment of the president who rebuked the nations attempting to slaughter our country is lavished in left-leaning madness.
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